Hospital transfer table



June 13, 1961 J. T. LITTLETON m HOSPITAL TRANSFER TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1958 INVENTOR.

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@wm/WMM /fla 92710" wNl what .A ww.. wmRw EN v .V T h n NN www i* i TN wm.. /b 1 km( i l: E? mm ...,.wv %w\ June 13, 1961 .1.V r. LrrTLEToN nl HOSPITAL TRANSFER TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1958 @I m/w M @Y L ,A ff M\ Nw ANN w,\n\\ www W KN W wk. y (N A@ WJ E AA J June 13, 1961 J. T. Lrr'rLEToN m HOSPITAL TRANSFER TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 1958 INV OR. Llaslas* ZZ/Ir United States Patent O 2,987,734 HOSPITAL TRANSFER TABLE Jesse T. Littleton III, 778 S. Main St., Athens, Pa. Filed Apr. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 730,344 6 Claims. (Cl. 5-86) This invention relates generally to wheeled tables and more particularly to a transfer table with a removable top -for use in supporting and moving hospital patients from their homes or the scene of an accident to the hospital, to the X-ray table, to the operating room, and to their hospital beds without physically moving the patient.

Hospital statistics disclose that an acute fracture patient must be physically moved an average of 6.7 times and that most hospitals do not have special transfer devices for effecting such moves which involve great discomfort and danger to the patient. Where special devices are used, the average number of patient moves required is only slightly reduced. Obviously, the optimum situation is one wherein a patient is not moved from the time he is picked up in the street or at his home, until he is put to bed in the hospital.

Transfer tables of various types are known in the art but, as a whole, are characterized by a number of inherent disadvantages and limitations in structure and in use. Among these are: an inability to effect the trans- -fer of a seriously ill or injured patient from place to place with a minimum or no handling thereof, the unnecessary handling of such patients being extremely dangerous and detrimental to ultimate recovery; an interference by the table itself with the treating of the patient or the taking of X-rays through the inability to remove the table without additional handling of the patient; an unnecessarily complex table structure and operating equipment thereof almost requiring the services of a skilled mechanic or especially trained personnel to manipulate the table; and an unnecessarily high cost precluding their purchase by the smaller institutions.

Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved transfer table with a removable stretcher-like top for hospital patients, etc., which will obviate the above and other objectionable features characterizing known structures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified transfer table and removable top construction which will permit a safe but expeditious transfer of a patient from his home or the scene of an accident to the hospital and through all of the hospital procedures without being moved from the top by a single attendant who can readily make the necessary table adjustments to effect the transfer steps.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an improved wheeled transfer table with a removable top for hospital patients, etc., which is capable of adjustment as to vertical height, is rotatable about a vertical axis and lockable in the positions to which rotated, may be secured to an X-ray table or be fixed in position adjacent thereto or lto a bed to prevent relative movement of the transfer table with respect thereto during the transfer of a patient, and is movable away from a bed or X-ray table after transfer is complete to avoid interference with the treatment of a patient.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved transfer table having a removable patient-supporting top to effect ready transfer of a patient, the table being provided with a drop leaf including guides and tracks over which the top is moved laterally on rollers to effect patient transfer, and the table including stops to retain the top safely on the table during movement of the latter from place to place.

lCC

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved transfer table having a removable top in the nature of a wheeled stretcher and formed of a material through which it is possible to take X-ray pictures, the top including pulling and lifting handles for use as a stretcher, and a plurality of spaced supporting casters enabling rolling movement of the top to and from the transfer table frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved transfer table of the type described which is relatively economical to manufacture, and of light weight but rugged and of long, maintenance-free life in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be come apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the transfer table comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view thereof showing the opposite side including the drop leaf with its tracks and guides;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the transfer table with the stretcher or patient supporting top removed;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the top of the transfer table showing the supporting casters and end guide rollers;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the transfer table showing it adjacent a bed in the relationship necessary to transfer a patient;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, sectional view of the transfer table showing it connected to an X-ray table in patient-transferring relationship;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view to an enlarged scale of one of the X-ray table rail-engaging hooks and its operation taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the stretcher handle and guide-roller supporting brackets.

Referring to the drawings, the transfer table comprises a stretcher-like removable top, a top-supporting upper frame which is mounted by means of hydraulic lifting mechanism on a wheeled, lower frame, and a drop leaf pivoted to one side of the upper frame, all of which will be described in detail. v

The lower frame 10 is rectangular and includes spaced, connected pairs of side and end members 11 and 12 (FIGURES l, 5, and 6) and a central platform 14 upon which the hydraulic lifting mechanism 16 is mounted. Large caster wheels |18 are journalled at the corners of the lower frame 10 and one diagonal pair of the wheels is provided with brakes 19 operable by toggle type foot levers 20 to release or set the brakes to render the transfer table immobile as desired during the transfer of a patient.

The upper frame 21 (FIGURES 5 and 6) is rotatable with respect to the lower frame l0, being mounted on the piston 23 by the cross-head 24, and includes (FIG- URE 3) spaced, longitudinally extending main frame members 25. A pair of transversely extending wide angle members forming tracks 26 connect the ends of the members 25 and U-shaped table handles 27 are fixed thereto and extend outwardly therefrom. An end or guide plate 28 is fixed to each of the handles 27 and prevents end movement of the table top (dotted lines) while guiding its lateral movement to or from its normal position on the transfer table.

A drop leaf 29 lforming a lateral extension of the upper frame surface when raised, is pivoted to the rear side of the upper frame 21 at the ends of the tracks 26.

The drop leaf comprises a pair of wide, at bars 30 aligned with and forming continuations of the tracks 26 and an elongated plywood panel 32 xed thereto and upon the ends of which upstanding angle members 33 are fixed to constitute aligned continuations of the end guide plates 28 of the upper frame, when the drop leaf 29 is raised. The under surface of the panel 32 is provided with adequate braces as at 34.

The hydraulic lift mechanism 16, 23 is of a conventional type and controlled by the rod 35 upon the outer end of which, the operating handle 36 is mounted. The upper frame is locked against rotation with respect to the lower frame 1t) by means of an upstanding A-bracket 37 mounted on and centrally of each of the lower frame members 12 (FIGURES l, 5 and 6) which have notched, inturned iianges 38. A single depending metal bar 39 is suitably fixed to the bottom of the upper frame 21 so as to be aligned with the notched flange 38 of either of the A-brackets when the frames 10 and 21 are in longitudinal alignment to lock them against relative rotation. The bar 39 is long enough to engage the ange 38 regardlessY of the adjusted height of the upper frame 21 and is suiciently resilient to be readily disengaged from the flange to permit relative rotation of the upper and lower transfer table frames as desired during patient transfer operations.

The stretcher-like removable top 40 (FIGURE 4) comprises a strong, rectangular frame 42 which, like the upper and lower frames 21 and 12, may be of lightweight steel. A strong, rectangular panel 43, preferablyV of plywood but which may be of any suitable material through which X-ray pictures may be taken, is fixed to the frame 42 which is provided with fixed handles 44.

An angle bracket 45 is fixed to each corner of the transfer table top 4G and a portion thereof extends beyond the end thereof and is apertured so as to have a depending guide roller 46 journalled therein (FIGURES 4 and 8). The shaft of the roller 46 is provided with a collar or shoulder 47 of adequate size and bearing against Vthe underside of the bracket 45 as to prevent any motion except rolling by the roller 46.

An elongated journal block 48 is fixed to the side of each of the brackets 45 as by welding and a table top lifting handle 49 `is pivoted to the bracket 45 by straps 50 xed to a pintle 52 in the blockV 48. It will be noted that strong, top lifting or pulling handles are thus provided which are pivoted at a point outside of the frame 42 eliminating any danger of pinching a patient during maneuvering of the top. Moreover, the inner edges of the straps i), the lower half being straight and engaging the side face of the bracket 45 and the upper half being curved as at 53, permit only upward pivoting of each handle 49 about the pintle 52. Thus, in the at rest position, the handles y49 are always spaced above the surface upon which the table top 40 rests, and may be readily grasped.

Pairs of 'longitudinally spaced, low height, caster rollers 54 are mounted on the bottom of the sides of the frame 42 in alignment with the track members 26 upon which they are supported. The casters y54 project only 1A of an inch below the plywood panel 43 which is preferably of 3A inch thick which ensures against distortion or unsharpness in the taking of X-ray iilms. The top surface of the panel 43 is provided with a one inch mattress of radio-lucent foam plastic for patient comfort and this is covered with electrically conductive rubber sheeting (not shown) as required lin modern operating rooms to adequately ground the patient, thus reducing the anesthetic explosion hazard from static electricity.

As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, when the transfer table top 40 is positioned upon the upper frame 21, the supporting caster rollers 54 will be constrained to the path of the tracks 26 by the engagement of the end guide rollers 46 with the end guide plates 28 which eliminates fric- 4 tional drag when the top 40 is moved laterally of the transfer table to or from a bed, etc.

During transit of the transfer table from bed to X-ray table, etc., lateral movement of the top 40 is prevented by pairs of spaced stops arranged on both sides of the upper frame 21. As seen in FIGURES 1-3, 5 and 6 and in detail in FIGURE 7, a stop member 55 having a hook portion 56 is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the outer side face of each end of the track frame members 26 by means of a strap 57.

A pair of control rods 58 having operating handles 59 and 60 are rotatably mounted in apertured brackets 61 depending from the tracks 26 along the sides of the frame 21 adjacent the guide straps 57. A crank arm 62 is fixed to the rods 58 adjacent each of the straps 57 and is connected to the bottom of the stop 55 by a pin 63 fixed thereto and operating in an elongated slot 64 in the crank arm.

It will be apparent (FIGURES 1, 5 and 7) that move- Yment of the handles 59 and 60 toward each other will raise the stops 55 to a higher position than the top frame 42 and so confine the stretcher-like top 40 to its position on top of the transfer table whereas movement of the handles 59 and 60 away from each other or toward the outside of the table will retract or lower the stops so that the top 40 may be rolled laterally olf of the transfer table.

The handles 59 and 60 are resiliently locked in either position by a pair of arcuate racks 65 fixed to the adjacent end guide plate 2S, the racks being provided with a pair of spaced notches 66 adapted to receive a portion of the handles when urged therein by spring means 67 acting between lugs 68 fixed to and depending from the rods 58, and the lower ends of the handles (FIGURES 1 and 5).

The `stops 55 have an additional function in the use of the transfer table when the front of it is positioned adjacent an X-ray table, etc. (dotted lines, FIGURE 6) which is provided with a horizontal rod 70 on its front edge. When so positioned, the control handle 60 is swung to the right vfrom the position of FIGURE 5 so that the stop hooks 56 drop down over and engage the rod 70 of the X-ray table (FIGURE 6).

It is believed that the use of the transfer table-most of the parts of which may have a white enamel finishwill be obvious. Only the stretcher-like top 40 is carried by the ambulances and upon arrival at a patients home or the scene of an accident, the attendants place the patient on the top 40 which is placed in the ambulance and transferred to the transfer table at the hospital Without moving the patient again.

Where the patient is to be transferred to an X-ray table, the front side of the transfer table is moved into position against it and the height of the upper surface of the frame 21 is adjusted level with the X-ray table top by means of the hydraulic lift mechanism. The stop control handle 60 is now moved toward the X-ray table to lower the stops 55 out of the way of the castered top 40 bearing the patient and simultaneously cause the stop hooks 56 to engage the X-ray table rail 70. Optionally, where the table to which the patient is to be transferred has no rail or rod 70, the caster wheel brakes 19 are applied to prevent relative movement between the tables during transfer of the patient.

The patient-bearing top `40 is now rolled laterally along the tracks 26 directly onto the X-ray table top and upon release of the stop hooks 56 from the rod 70, the transfer table minus the top 40 may be moved to an out-of-the-way position. Upon completion of the X-rays, the transfer table is again hooked onto the rod 70, the patient and transfer table top 40 are rolled onto the transfer table, the stops 55 being again raised when unhooked from the rod, and the transfer table is wheeled back to the patients bed with its rear or drop leaf side adjacent thereto,

The transfer table and top may be moved directly to an operating room from the X-ray table and the top 40 used as an examination or operating table. Upon the completion of an operation, etc., the patient would be wheeled back to and transferred back to the bed as will be described.

The transfer table is adjusted as before except that the upper frame 21 is adjusted so -as to be a little higher than the surface of the bed (FIGURE 5) so that the transfer of the patient is a down-hill job. When the side of the top 40 is rolled onto the bed, the patient is rolled over or lifted onto the bed and the top rolled back onto the frame 21 upon which the transfer table may be rolled away, or the top may be left on top of the bed to avoid moving the patient at all.

To transfer a patient from a bed to an X-ray table, the rear side of the transfer table is moved to a position `adjacent and parallel to the bed where the height of the upper frame 21 is adjusted by use of the hydraulic lift and control handle 36 so that the drop leaf 29 when raised to the dotted line position of FIGURE 5 is higher than the surface of the bed.

The transfer table is now moved toward the bed until the extended edge of the drop leaf is adjacent the patient whereupon the two brakes 19 are set to immobilize the table. The braking etect of only two wheels is adequate and the placing of the brakes on diagonally opposite wheels greatly facilitates their use with a minimum of discomfort to the patient in eliminating much jostling of the bed. The upper frame 21 is now lowered by the hydraulic lift until the frame and the drop leaf are in the same horizontal plane so as to require a minimum of effort in moving the loaded transfer table top 40 from the leaf to the Iframe 21. It will be appreciated that the drop leaf is supported by the bed when in extended position.

The patient is now rolled over to the left as seen in FIGURE 5 and, the stops 55 having been lowered by moving the control handle 59 to the left, the stretcher-like top 40 is rolled laterally onto the drop leaf and next to the patient who is then rolled back onto the surface 43. The upper frame 21 is now lowered hydraulically to just below the bed level and the top is now pulled back onto the transfer table frame 21 by the handles 49-the end guide rollers 46 bearing against the end guides 33 and 28 of the drop leaf and frame and keeping the top straight even if the pull is exerted on only one handleand against the stops 55 on the front side of the frame. The rear side stops are now raised by moving the control handle 59 to the right hand notch 66, the brakes 19 are released, and as the transfer table is moved away from the bed, the drop leaf 29 is manually grasped and lowered to the position of FIGURE 6 and the transfer table and patient may now be safely moved to another location.

It will now be readily apparent that the transfer table and its removable top comprising the present invention constitutes an important advance in the art of patient transfer devices in enabling an absolute minimum in the handling of a patient and in the number of attendants required therefor. As compared to the several attendants required to lift a 200 pound patient out of a low ambulance carriage up to an X-ray table and positioning the body properly, the present invention enables all in-hospital moves to be accomplished by one attendant, no matter what the patients weight.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a. preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

l claim:

1. A transfer table for moving patients to or from a bed, X-ray table, etc., in prone position comprising a generally rectangular wheeled frame, an upper frame mounted on said wheeled frame for relative vertical movement with respect thereto, a pair of spaced parallel tracks arranged transversely of and fixed to said upper frame, a removable, rigid, patient-supporting top including spaced pairs of supporting wheels mounted on said tracks, said wheels being recessed in the lower surface of said top to afford it a minimum of clearance for use in X-rays, upstanding plates for guiding transverse movement and preventing endwise movement of said top fixed to the ends of said upper frame, a pair of spaced, retractible stop means preventing transverse movement of said top along said tracks mounted on each side of said upper frame, and means mounted on said upper frame for retracting the pair of stop means on either side of said upper frame to permit transverse movement of said top over that side, said stop means including hook portions adapted when retracted to connect said table to an adjacent surface for patient transfer purposes.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a pair of spaced rollers are mounted in the ends of said patientsupporting top to minimize friction between it and the upstanding guide plates during transverse movement of said top.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein a drop leaf is coextensive with and pivoted to one side of said upper frame, and said leaf includes spaced parallel tracks and end guide plates fixed thereto in alignment with the tracks and plates of said upper frame so as to constitute a lateral extension thereof for movement of said top over the extension tracks and between the extension guide plates when said leaf is raised.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said upper frame for separately locking the stop and connecting means on each side of said frame in retracted or projected position.

5. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said patientsupporting top comprises a rectangular frame, and a panel of X-ray pervious material spanning and fixed to said frame.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein carrying handles are pivotally connected to the side edges of the corners of said frame, said handles engaging said frame in an at-rest horizontal position and being pivotal only upwardly from such position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,138,582 Sleicher ...i May 4, 1912 1,517,069 Huddart Nov. 25, 1924 1,635,575 Cole July 12, 1927 1,981,271 Koenigkramer Nov. 20, 1934 2,337,505 Swift Dec. 31, 1943 2,565,761 Dean Aug. 28, 1951 2,630,585 Gilleland Mar. 10, 1953 2,834,030 Jones May 13, 1958 2,836,475 Sapp May 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 145,108 Great Britain June 14, 1920 

